34 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. This historic civil rights law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.
To prevent discrimination against people with disabilities, the ADA sets out requirements that apply to many of the situations you encounter in everyday life. Employers, state and local governments, businesses that are open to the public, commercial facilities, transportation providers, and telecommunication companies all have to follow the requirements of the ADA.
A person with a disability is someone who:
- has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
- has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
- is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).
Examples of Disabilities
There is a wide variety of disabilities, and the ADA regulations do not list all of them. Some disabilities are visible and some are not. Some examples of disabilities include:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- HIV
- Autism
- Cerebral palsy
- Deafness or hearing loss
- Blindness or low vision
- Epilepsy
- Mobility disabilities such as those requiring the use of a wheelchair, walker, or cane
- Intellectual disabilities
- Major depressive disorder
- Traumatic brain injury
The ADA also covers many other disabilities not listed here.
The Flag for Disability Pride
Flags symbolize solidarity, pride, and acceptance. In 2019, writer Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy, created the original Disability Pride flag. Magill was motivated to create the flag after a less than pride-filled experience at an ADA anniversary event.
The diagonal band of six color stripes cut across the barriers separating the disabled from society, representing light and creativity cutting through darkness. Each of the six color stripes hold meaning:
- Red: physical disabilities.
- Gold: neurodiversity.
- White: invisible disabilities and undiagnosed conditions.
- Blue: emotional and psychiatric disabilities.
- Green: sensory disabilities, including deafness, blindness, and other sensory disabilities.
- Faded Black Background: mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse.
Report Abuse So It Doesn’t Happen to Someone Else
If you believe that you or someone else was discriminated against based on a disability, you can file an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint against:
- a state government or local government, such as a:
- public hospital
- public school
- other state or local government program
- a private business that serves the public, such as a:
- restaurant
- doctor’s office
- shop
- hotel
CLICK HERE to file a complaint. For more information about the American’s with Disabilities Act, go to ADA.gov
Making Long Distance Transport Accessible for All People with Disabilities
With advances in comfort and safety, non-emergency long distance medical transportation (NEMT) is now accessible to all people with disabilities. TransMedCare is at the forefront of the industry with the latest in state-of-the-art vehicles and highly trained professionals to ensure a safe and stress-free environment during travel. We invite you to explore our van fleet and the wide range of services we offer. And when it’s time for you or a loved one with a disability to relocate, call 866-394-5169 or go to our convenient Get a Quote form and a transportation specialist will respond promptly to your needs.
Sources: ADA.gov, ADAanniversary.org
